THE Coca-Cola system in Nigeria represented by the Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) Plc and Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited (CCNL) have signed a strategic partnership agreement with the Lady Mechanic Initiative (LMI) to provide a three-year comprehensive training programme on professional automobile repairs and maintenance for 100 young women in Edo state.
The Lady Mechanic Initiative is a non-governmental platform designed to train and empower young women to earn sustainable livelihood as professional automobile mechanics and technicians.
Over a three-year period, which includes internship at the Peugeot Automobile Nigeria’s assemply plant in Kaduna, trainees acquire theoretical and practical training on diagnosis, direct repairs, parts dismantling and installation. On graduation the trainees are offered employment with reputable car dealers and repair shops or supported to set up and effectively run their own workshops.
Announcing the sponsorship in Eyaen, Edo State on Thursday December 3, 2009, the Group President, Coca-Cola Eurasia and Africa Group, Mr. Ahmet Bozer stated that NBC and Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited are delighted to partner with the Lady Mechanic Initiative to empower women with skills to become self reliant. “In this global economic downturn, we believe that a key success factor and the path to long term growth and sustainability is the rapid empowerment of women, a vital but often disadvantaged group in most countries. Our investment in the Lady Mechanics Initiative is also a reflection of a deep commitment to give back to the communities in which we operate and be a catalyst for its rapid growth and transformation.”
In his own remarks, the Chairman of NBC Plc Ambassador Segun Apata, noted that the company is not only committed to ensuring a sustainable operating environment, “we are determined to contribute towards the development of our host communities. We have consistently invested massively in human capital development as well as empower people for self reliance and wealth creation. We will continue to support projects aimed at enabling people to generate wealth and cater for themselves and their families”, he concluded.
The Edo State Governor, Mr Adams Oshiomhole who was represented at the event by the Commissioner for Education, Dr. (Mrs.) Ngozi Osarenren commended the two companies for supporting the initiative. “We sincerely thank NBC Plc and Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited for investing in the rescue of our youths especially the women.
Today’s project will go a long way in assisting government’s efforts at addressing the problem of joblessness and the crimes associated with it.”
Also at the event, LMI initiator, Mrs. Sandra Eguebor-Ekperuoh noted that the training offers the spectrum of youths in hard to reach communities the opportunity to initiate, design and implement programs that result in sustainable development thereby facilitate their integration into the mainstream society.